Paediatric Immunology
Royal Manchester Children's Hospital
Paediatric Immunology at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital
The Paediatric Immunology service at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital provides diagnosis and treatment for children with immune disorders across the North West of the UK. The service cares for children with defined genetic immune disorders, including innate and acquired primary immunodeficiency diseases, and provides specialist clinics for severe or unusual infections and suspected immunodeficiency.
Visiting professionals can gain insight into outpatient assessment, diagnostic reasoning, immunoglobulin replacement, biologic therapies, home therapy pathways, day-case care in the Paediatric Elective Treatment Centre, inpatient care, and transition with adult immunology services. The service works closely with paediatric respiratory, gastroenterology, rheumatology, haematology and bone marrow/stem cell transplantation teams.
The service has close links with the North West Genomics Partnership and with immunology research groups at the Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, University of Manchester. This gives observers and fellows exposure to a clinically focused service with strong links to genomics, research and multidisciplinary care.
Fellowships and observerships at Manchester Specialist Health Academy provide international clinicians with structured opportunities to experience high quality healthcare training within a leading NHS environment. Both pathways offer consultant oversight, a clear induction, and access to modern clinical settings that support a strong understanding of advanced patient care. Participants are welcomed into a professional community that encourages learning, collaboration, and engagement with the culture of Manchester.
While fellows take part in more in depth clinical development, gaining exposure to subspecialties, procedures and research, observers focus on shadowing and understanding multidisciplinary practice within NHS services. Both groups benefit from involvement in clinics, team discussions, and wider learning activities such as simulation sessions, CPD opportunities, and quality improvement insight.
Rare and complex cases
- Children with primary immunodeficiency, suspected immunodeficiency, severe or unusual infections and immune dysregulation.
- Autoimmune and inflammatory disorders, virus-driven cancers and genetic immune disorders requiring genomics-informed assessment.
- Treatment pathways including intravenous and subcutaneous immunoglobulin replacement, biologic agents and close working with bone marrow and stem cell transplantation services.
Academic contributions and awards
The service has a strong academic and research-facing environment, with links to immunology, inflammation, genomics and national and international specialist partners.
- Dr Peter Arkwright, Consultant Paediatric Immunologist, received the BSACI William Frankland Award in 2024 for outstanding services in clinical allergy in the UK
Why Manchester?
Manchester is a city of innovation and progress, renowned as the world’s first industrial city and still leading in science, healthcare, and technology. With excellent transport links and a vibrant, multicultural atmosphere, it offers an inclusive environment for learning and professional growth.
Beyond your placement, Manchester offers something for everyone - from watching the iconic Manchester derby to exploring world-class museums and galleries. With vibrant music, sport, and culture, the city truly has it all. Combining heritage and modernity, it creates a unique setting for personal enrichment and memorable experiences whilst you develop professionally.
Our signature programmes
Observership
Paediatric Immunology
Objectives
By the end of the placement, the visiting professional should be able to:
- Understand the structure and function of a regional paediatric immunology service within a major children’s hospital.
- Observe assessment and diagnostic reasoning for suspected immunodeficiency, severe infection and immune dysregulation.
- Observe multidisciplinary working across immunology, specialist nursing, laboratory medicine, genomics and related paediatric specialties.
- Gain insight into immunoglobulin replacement, biologic therapies, home therapy support, day-case care and transition to adult services.
- Recognise how rare and complex immune disorders are managed within an NHS specialist service.
Eligibility
- The visiting professional must have sufficient English language skills to engage meaningfully in the observership.
Fellowship
Paediatric Immunology
Objectives
By the end of the placement, the visiting professional should be able to:
- Contribute to supervised clinical activity.
- Strengthen clinical reasoning in paediatric immunology assessment, investigation and management planning.
- Develop practical understanding of care pathways for primary immunodeficiency, immune dysregulation, severe infection and complex inflammatory disease.
- Build experience of multidisciplinary coordination with specialist nursing, genomics, laboratory services and bone marrow/stem cell transplantation teams.
- Gain insight into research, audit, quality improvement and service development within paediatric immunology.
Eligibility
- Postgraduate Qualification: Applicants must hold an overseas-recognised postgraduate medical qualification (MD, MS, Masters) in ophthalmology or a relevant specialty.
- Experience: Minimum of 3 years’ recent experience in ophthalmology or a related specialty within the last 5 years, including at least 12 months of continuous practice before applying.
- Training Level: Equivalent to ST5 or above, or post-CCT clinicians seeking subspecialty exposure.
- Language Proficiency: IELTS Academic with 7.0 in each band and overall 7.5, or OET Medicine with Grade B in all domains, with certificate validity within 24 months.
- Registration: GMC registration is required for fellowship activity. Sponsorship support may be available through approved routes where appropriate.
- Applicants must not have failed PLAB exams previously.
- Visa sponsorship is only available through approved routes; self-funded visas outside agreed schemes are excluded.